Iron Horse

蓝草音乐的演唱一般都是多声部的，除主旋律声部外，往往还在上方用假声叠置一个和声声部，有时还在主旋律下方加上一两个低音声部。它的伴奏乐器以班卓琴和提琴而独具特色，有时还采用曼陀林、低音提琴等民间乐器，传统乡村音乐没有架子鼓的特点也在蓝草音乐中得到了保留。蓝草音乐的速度一般都比较快，每分钟160-330拍左右。Iron Horse乐队的4位成员分别是男高音和吉他手Vance Henry，班卓琴手和男中低音Anthony Richardson，bass手兼男中音Ricky Rogers，曼陀林和男高音Tony Robertson。2003年1月Iron Horse 录制了向heavy metal乐队Metallica致敬的专集《Fade to Bluegrass: The Bluegrass Tribute to Metallica》，并在2003年的10月发行. 后来他们也发表了向Ozzy Osbourne，Led Zeppelin，Modest Mouse致敬的专集。
 
History
 
Iron Horse was formed in 2000 in the famous hit recording capital of the 60’s and 70’s, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The band consists of four members including:
 
The bands roots go back to the late 1970’s, when Tony Robertson and Ricky Rogers were charter members of the popular local group, “The Next in Line”.
 
Through the years and after involvement with several groups, the present band was born as a result of the participation of Tony Robertson, Vance Henry and Ricky Rogers in the Jake Landers Band. In January 2003, Anthony was asked to fill an opening for a banjo player and the present Iron Horse configuration evolved. Iron Horse creates much of its own music, with an innate ability for cross-genre arrangements. Iron Horse has three self-produced albums, containing previously un-released compositions, and Iron Horse-composed originals.
 
Bio
 
Anyone listening to the innovative, hard-driving instrumental licks and strong, precise harmonies of this Bluegrass Band will want to strap in to their seat and prepare to be thrilled with the ride. The compilations produced by this extremely progressive band truly bring delights to the listening experience. These guys are uniquely gifted in arrangement and presentation of lyrics and melody.
 
The belief that a group of men, with the help of God, can do anything certainly has found wings within the hearts of Iron Horse members, Tony Robertson (mandolin,) Vance Henry (guitar,) Ricky Rogers (bass,) and Anthony Richardson (banjo.) Their vision and talent for producing a distinctive interpretation of bluegrass standards as well as crossover standards has caused fans, peers, musical engineers, and recording labels alike to agree that these guys are outside of the box of restraints and boundaries. They are, without a doubt, just in their inception of making their mark on the consumer of great acoustic and bluegrass music. Every indicator at this point is that their impact will be genuine and intriguing.
 
“Iron Horse” has a new sound for Bluegrass and they always perform with a spirit and sense of style that pays the most gratifying compliment to acoustic and bluegrass lovers; a warm mixture of family influence, belief in God, and an unwillingness to deny their creative urges.
 
The variety and energetic composition presented on the live stage performances and recorded projects definitely prove that the well-blended arrangement originalities provided by Iron Horse have merit that will stand on its own in any genre.
 
Nothing could be more depictive of the strength and character of the songwriting abilities of these band members than their first project released in 2001 which was entitled “Riding Out The Storm.” It is composed of a more traditional style bluegrass. It has The Marshall Tucker Band’s, “Fire on the Mountain”, Marshal Warwick’s “Leaving Me” & “Going Home”, six Iron Horse originals and two from the pen of Jake Landers to round out the project.
 
The “New Tracks” project released in 2005 boasts a track list of such favorites as “Dancin’ With the Angels” (Peter H. Rowan/Jubilation Music International), “Face of Christ” (Christopher M. Rice), “Where No Cabins Fall” (Nolan Jeffress/Hartford Music Co., SESAC), three Iron Horse originals, two from Jake Landers just to name a few. The mix will take you from rejoicing during “Shine Jerusalem” to wiping tears during “Old Elijah” (A. Paxton).
 
Iron Horse “A Small Town Christmas” released in 2009 is sure to be a treasured tradition in every bluegrass home. With all of the songs written, performed and produced by this ever emerging band the warmth and sincerity of each track is inviting and infectious. This project has the potential to become as much a symbol of the season as blanket of new snow.